A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Thursday Notes for June 20, 2002

A Factsheet from the Division of Adult Education and Literacy
Office of Vocational and Adult EducationEdited by Sarah Newcomb

Welfare Caseloads Up in Most States

Welfare caseloads may be creeping up. For the first time since TANF was implemented, the average yearly change in states' caseloads increased in 2000-2001, reports the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). In that year, 34 states had caseload increases and 16 had decreases. In the prior year, just nine states had increases, while 42 had decreases. States with the largest increases from 2000-2001 were NV (69%), IN (27%), MT (20%), SC (19%), and AZ (18%). A dozen states have shown continuous caseload growth in recent months, CLASP says. They include AZ, CO, FL, GA, IN, MS, NV, NH, NC, ND, SC, and TX. Even more states are seeing smaller decreases than in earlier years. The CLASP analysis was based on statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services. See Caseload Discussion.

TN Rewards Using Training

Tennessee adult education instructors can be rewarded with $500 or more if they attend at least 100 hours of training and use what they learned in class. Tennessee's Professional Development and Tracking System, now in its second year offers a number of instructional areas or "tracks" for teachers to pursue. Examples are workplace literacy, English literacy, welfare reform, and ABE/GED-including rare training in accommodations for the GED test. A leadership track is offered for supervisors. Teachers earn points for participating in training either regionally or at the Academy for Instructional Excellence run by the state with the University of Tennessee each year. One hundred hours of state-sponsored training earn 100 points. Points, plus a successful "observation" by a supervisor during which the teacher uses the training in class can earn teachers $500 plus statewide recognition. Teachers with 200 points, a successful observation and a portfolio documenting how they used the training in class, get $1,000. Rewards top out at 300 points and $1,500. Contact Hope Lancaster.

Got Childcare?

If you're planning adult education services, you'd better plan for childcare. Two out of three working mothers work more hours than women without children, the AFL-CIO's just-released Ask a Working Woman Survey says. Many women, especially women of color, work nontraditional hours including weekends and nights. Nearly half of African-American women and Latinas work irregular hours. While 40 percent of working mothers responding work different schedules than their mates, nearly half of minority women had different schedules from theirs. Childcare seems essential to get Moms or Dads enough time to come to class. See AFLCIO